Telehealth Clinic Lights Up Rural Indiana School
WORTHINGTON, Indiana – Students in the White River Valley (WRV) School District Schools can now benefit from an expansion of innovative high-tech telehealth here. As an active participant in the Indiana Rural School Clinic Network (IRSCN), the White River Valley Elementary School now has a fully functional telehealth clinic online, according to Bob Hacker, Superintendent of the White River Valley School District.
“Using state-of-the-art secure technology as a force multiplier to deliver healthcare will benefit students and staff alike,” said Dr. Hacker. “Being able to bring the superb extended services of the Greene County General Hospital and its My Clinic network to our students creates a new dimension of service.”
Dr. Hacker was on hand with other county and state officials to officially open the telehealth clinic at the White River Valley Elementary School November 19.
Other officials and administrators taking part in the ribbon cutting included Brenda Reetz, CEO of the Greene County General Hospital; Jill Staggs, WRV Elementary Principal; Frederick Ridge, MD, My Clinics medical director; Regenia Robinson, clinical staff supervisor for the My Clinics staff of Greene County General Hospital; Amanda Brinson and Lisa Bredeweg, Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP) with the My Clinic healthcare facility in Linton; Linda Swango, FNP and Angela Barnett, FNP with the My Clinics facility in Worthington, who will help service the telehealth clinic; Jessica Egenolf, school nurse; and Kathleen Chelminiak, project director for IRSCN and the Indiana Rural Health Association.
Racheall Lengacher, Director of Outpatient Clinics for the Greene County General Hospital, also played an important role in helping to establish the telehealth facility, according to Chelminiak.
The students and staff at WRV Elementary will now be able to see a doctor or medical provider through a video-conference. The clinic uses a digital stethoscope and other technology sensory tools to help a linking provider make a diagnosis. School nurses and related staff have received several hours of training on how to utilize the equipment.
Through the technology provided by the WRV clinic, WRV students and staff will have the opportunity to be seen by a remote healthcare provider who actually may be miles away from the school. All of this takes place at WRV, while the student (or staff member) remains at school instead of visiting an out-patient emergency department. This reduces challenges that rural students can face when it comes to receiving quality healthcare during the school day.
“Our goal is to provide high quality healthcare quickly and remove any barriers to accessing primary care on a timely basis” said Kathleen Chelminiak, project director of IRSCN.
To celebrate this critical clinic opening at the White River Elementary School, a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place Monday, November 19 at 1 p.m. (EST) at the school with education, medical, hospital and agency officials and administrators. The White River Valley Elementary School is located at 484 West Main Street in Worthington.
The new WRV Elementary service uses state-of-the-art telemedicine equipment and software to allow medical professionals to directly provide healthcare services. Jessica Egenolf, the school nurse, will use digital diagnostic equipment and sensors transmitting through secure broadband connectivity from the school to medical facilities at the My Clinic facility and the Greene County General Hospital.
“With this secure platform we can increase access for students and staff directly to our excellent healthcare services at the Greene County General Hospital and the My Clinic network,” said Reetz. “We can save everyone time and promote quality healthcare delivery through this program.”
“Using telehealth technology to connect students with medical professionals heightens a level of new service – children can be seen by a provider without a parent having to leave work, or drive in from a remote rural area of Greene County — we can address acute medical care issues as they arise within the school day,” said Dr. Hacker. “I see this as a distinct advantage for our students and parents, especially those living on farms or in remote rural areas of Greene County.”
The medical professional or provider conducting the telehealth diagnostic session can also directly send follow-up information to the children’s physician and prescriptions directly to local pharmacies for pickup. To participate, children must have prior parent/guardian consent. Any fees are appropriately billed to insurance. No student will be denied coverage or treatment because of lack of ability to pay.
The ribbon-cutting included a live demonstration of the high-tech telehealth equipment to be used by the rural clinic, including a high-tech imaging stethoscope, dermscope, and otoscope in addition to customized video equipment and software platforms. The White River Elementary facility is now a formal part of the Indiana Rural Schools Clinic Network (IRSCN).
White River Valley Schools initiated the telehealth grant application with the Indiana Rural Health Association to secure funding. “Once accepted, we approached the Greene County General Hospital administrators and they were very willing to partner with us to provide a great service for our students, staff, and parents,” said Dr. Hacker. “We are very fortunate to have been selected by the IRSCN for the grant and are greatly appreciative to the professionals at Greene County General Hospital and the My Clinics network for joining us in this true community partnership.”
The School-based Telehealth Clinic will also service the telehealth portion with trained medical providers available to help students experiencing acute health symptoms.
Accessing health care in rural areas of Indiana is often more difficult because of factors like poverty, transportation and provider shortages.
“Through this innovative approach of incorporating telehealth into the school setting, we are confident children will receive quality healthcare that is more accessible to them than it ever has been before. Parents won’t have to take time off work, struggle with getting an appointment with their doctor or worry about transportation issues. They can now receive help in getting their children healthier, instead of the limitations they may face with seeking primary care during the school day,” said Don Kelso, IRHA executive director.
The new school-based telehealth clinic is funded through a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant made available to the Indiana Rural Health Association.
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About the White River Valley School District
The vision of the White River Valley School District (WRVSD) is to be the best educational choice for its patrons in the state. As its vision, WRVSD promotes academic achievement through a focus on rigorous and relevant curriculum and the fostering of positive relationships. This is summed up in three words: rigor, relevance and relationships. Our use of relationships is not meant to be difficult or hard. It pertains to providing our students with curriculum that pushes each student beyond his or her comfort zone. Relevance pertains to a curriculum which emphasizes skills of inquiry, team-building, problem-solving and analysis that each student needs to become a contributing member of society. Relationships means we are the Wolverine family. The faculty must model for and foster positive relationship skills within our student body. By building positive relationships, each individual will gain the support necessary to reach his or her highest potential For more information, please visit: http://wrv.k12.in.us/home
About Greene County General Hospital
Greene County General Hospital (GCGH) has been the leading provider of hospital and healthcare services to the residents of Greene County Indiana since 1912. We are proud of our rich tradition of compassionate, high quality care provided by friends and neighbors, for friends and neighbors. The Indiana hospital operates four My Clinic locations for localized healthcare delivery in Linton, Bloomfield, Worthington and the WestGate@Crane Technology Park. The stated mission of the hospital is to provide access to quality and cost-efficient health care and to promote healthy lifestyles to people in our service area. Its vision to become the provider of choice by pursuing excellence in service that meets and exceeds the expectations of our customers. GCGH values the worth of all people and believes our partnership should be one of respect and pride. For more information, please visit https://greenecountyhospital.com/
About the Indiana Rural Health Association
The Indiana Rural Health Association was organized in 1997 and is a nonprofit organization working to enhance the health and well-being of rural populations in Indiana through leadership, education, advocacy, collaboration, and resource development. The strength of the organization is through the present diverse membership and the founding organizers who are committed to impacting the health of citizens through the identification of rural health issues and through advocacy roles in both the public and private sectors. IRHA membership is made up of 3,300 diverse individuals and organizations, making it the largest state rural health association in the nation, and a nationally recognized leader in rural health care. For more information, visit www.indianaruralhealth.org
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